The Dillon tribune., 1887-12-16

er feels SO independent OF the rest OF man
kind, and so weaned from society, that he
finds himself almost plying the stay at
homes, and rejoicing inward'y at his own
pluck and resolution.
Besides since the muddy Missouri has
been crossed, the road widens and broad,
constantly beaten trail, disappearing from
view under the setting sun, reveals that
countless thousands have gone before, and
all feeling of home sickness and loneliness
vanish as wagon after wagon, and train at.
ter train appear in sight, some in front and
some in the rear, upon the broad, tree!ess
plains, that constitute the feeding ground
Of the antelope and the buffalo. We be-
gin to i.negine that every State IL. the I'm.
ion has sent out ON wheels quarter Of its
population, and wonder that SO many wag
ons can be procured. Around the camp
, fire it is surprising how quickly we get ac.
| before, and may never see again. Conver.
sation and music while away the hours in
camp; songs Of sentiment, Of love, or OF
war; swell the evening air. while the stars
in b!uest heaven, twinkle almost conscious.
y. and the broad moon looks serenely
down upon most Joyous scenes, for all are
stirred with animation. Hope for the iu
ture is measured by the happiness Of the
present.
Wood being scan.y aud consisting main
~ OF drift from the streams, with an occa.
sional half.green limb from a cottonwood
tree, rank weeds and the ever abundant
buffalo chip, furnished grateful fires for
hungry, dusty travellers.
Buffalo were abundant in those davs
along some portions Of the trail, ana many
a monster OF "hdeous mein" was brought
to earth TO furnish Il few pounds Of nnea,
Tor the hunter, and feast tor the denzens
of the plains. Antelope were easily secur.
ed by skilltul Marksmen at a few miles dis.
tancc from the road, and al. :he streams
abounded in fish
Our mounted men would cross the SHIFT.
ing sands OF the muddy Platte to forts
kearney or Laramie for mail from the now
distant States and the la.es. war news, per.
haps already weeks old, reminding those
interested Of the bloody strife still. raging
among their brothers at home. lie. those
aforementioned days Of toll and blood shed
bind in closer fellowship our brothers of
too day, and may peace and plenty from
| hencetorth bless our beautious land.
Tales OF men lost in the reacherous cd.
dies of the Platte served to sa!den for
time the hearts OF sympathetic listeners Il,
Grand Island and On Rawhide creek, il,
! Nebraska, place was pointed out at whic:,
! tew years before Il man had been tiayed
alive in presence Of his father and brother,
by the Indians, for wantonly shooting a
>quaw.
At Loup Fork, a fat dog, with a broken
leg, furnished feast for number Of Paw
Tee braves, and, at several points, the graves
OF people killed by Indians, only the year
before, recalled the torebodings of friends
AZ home.
|
see mule teams driven by the soldiers 0,
the posts, with single line and under per,
feet control, while 4 jerk or pull mean,
see and haw, respectively.
White men with squaw wives We're uu.
nerous along the Platte, and at interval,
blacksmith could be found hundreds or
| miles Nhita
\ price that sounded ex;savasant to Us
! poor pilgrims, would set cur wagon tires.
| loosered by the burning sands of the Cal
! itorn:a trail, or shoe our too,-sov oxen.
Graves OF Indians, on elevated platforms,
sarn'shed the trees in some places, ana
pools OF a!kaii water soun warncu Us ,h.l
we We're beyond The con.1nvs o., ~iyiliza.
ton.
y man, driving post haste, with 4 pait 9.
nor>e>, ani an emjsrant wagon, chae,ng
another man with 4 ,'n!lar ciy " 40 ua>! ruu
away witn The tor tuer'> wife. gave o.. frs
glimpse OF society .nuns tnv mountains,
| and marriage a, the head Q! III. corral,
by the late John Boze,,au. guide and
moun,ainesr, OF grass widow, With an.
other grass widow's husband, vi,hou: tAv
uou>lc>on:e tormasity OF divorce on
either side, afforded IN vxa,rp!, II tha,
, uWle>>ns>> which reached lis cu.rr',},;i1,,
IN The road agents CT Montana an! ue<cs>i-
ta.>,! the Vigilance Committee
| lnS Clear, rip!nS waters Of the North
| Platte formed: :: welcome contrast ~ shc sol
,tuae OF the Black Rii>, and ,he .urhii va